Agility

Border Terriers are well loved for their energy, intelligence and even their touch of a clownish streak. But, like many terriers, Border Terriers are independent and have a tendency to run towards dominant personalities. Without the proper training, they can be stubborn, quick to chase, and not afraid to initiate a fight with any other creature that rubs him the wrong way. In order to ensure that our Border Terrier doesn't become the head of your household, proper training and plenty of exercise will be key to showing him who is in charge. [...]

Border Terriers enjoy a long history as working dogs going back at least two hundred years. They were originally developed by the Robson family in the middle of the 19th century to hunt fox, rabbit, and other small animals around the border between England and Scotland, which is how they earned their name. While Border Terriers are not the most popular hunting dog in the world, they certainly are still used for hunting both in North America and in England. In this article, we'll take a look at training and where hunting is available in the United States. [...]

The Bouvier des Flandres is a very talented working dog that competes in may canine events such as tracking, French ring, Mondio ring, IPO, Schutzhund, Obedience, Herding, and Agility.
For those unfamiliar with Mondioring, it is an entire group of exercises completed by the dog and the handler in obedience, agility, and protection. Most of these are protection sports. The exercises go almost nonstop without interruption. The main purpose of the events is for the dog to compete with distractions. The dog must show control and willingness on and off the leash. [...]

The Bouvier des Flandres is a dog that serves many purposes in the lives of the people who own them. They're highly regarded as a watchdog, guardian, and family pet, in addition to all they do as a working dog. They have also been used as a seeing eye dog to guide the blind. They are also used in Search & Rescue, an organization designed to help find missing people, and their assistance in police and military work has been invaluable. [...]

Agility competitions are favorites among dog enthusiasts. Agility competition is a great way to keep your dog active and fit in body as well as keep his mind active and alert. It's also a great way to spend time and bond with your dog, since dog and owner work closely together when running agility courses.
Agility courses are, simply put, an obstacle course for dogs. Each obstacle course will have several different sorts of obstacles, including hoops, "teeter-totter" type devices, dog walks (like a "catwalk"), A-frame obstacles and tunnels, along with other jumps and obstacles. [...]

If you're looking for a great way to exercise and spend time with your Cocker spaniel, there are several different competitions offered through various associations around the country that focus on ability instead of good looks. Cocker spaniels certainly have plenty of both, and while they may be better known for making dramatic entrances at conformation shows, they also excel in agility and obedience competitions. In this article, we'll take a look at both agility and obedience competitions and why the Cocker spaniel is a good competitor in both. [...]

The Japanese Chin is a toy breed of dog that is adored as a family pet, lap dog, and companion. There is much more to the Japanese Chin than just his role as a pet as we know him. Japanese Chin, the show dog, is another of his many roles and a role they do very well.
The Chin has been displayed in shows for many years, since the very first show in 1882 in New York. This dog show had nine Japanese Spaniels, the name the Chin was called until it was changed in 1977. This is the same year the Japanese Chin Club of America was formed. [...]

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is considered a working dog, and is more so a driving dog instead of a herding dog. Their lineage dates back hundreds of years, as being a dog that not only drives cattle but also geese, ducks and sheep.
Today, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a companion more than a driving dog. In some countries, they do still use the Corgi for driving cattle, but in the United States, the dog is found as a lovable companion for families. Because of their keen sense, Corgis are used for people who are hearing-impaired. They let the owners know about certain sounds that are important to know about. [...]

The Anatolian Shepherd is a strong, fast dog that has endurance, power, and agility. The appearance of the dog reflects its ability to overpower and conquer any animal or person trying to enter its territory without permission. The Anatolian is a large breed that is all muscle and strength. The large build of the dog shows its tolerability to endure months of being in the mountains taking care of the flock protecting them from animals such as wolves. [...]

The Beauceron is a large dog and as such needs lots of exercise. He cannot be cooped up in small spaces without the opportunity to exercise. He truly needs a job to do and lots of space in which to express himself and use his energy. [...]

The Xoloitzcuintli is one of the most agile dogs in the world. This rare breed is one of the oldest breeds in the world and it is known for its energy and athleticism. A Xoloitzcuintli is a swift runner. It is light footed and it shows graceful movements as it runs and jumps. Because of its alertness, the Xolo is perfect as a watchdog, but not a guard dog because it is small in size. These characteristics make the Xoloitzcuintli a great companion that is ideal as a family pet, a therapy dog, as well as a competition dog. It can excel in Agility, Conformation, and Obedience competition events. [...]

The Wire Fox Terrier is a very intelligent dog that has been taught to do many things, with the first one being obedience. This is not to say that they eagerly look forward to obedience training. Quite the opposite, in fact. They are very smart dogs, but they don't understand why they need to do something just because you say so. They are capable and have the intelligence to learn anything, so long as it's something they feel they want to learn and do. [...]

The Wire Fox Terrier is a dog of many talents, but their original and first job was as a hunting dog. They were originally bred for fox-hunting. There were fox-hunting hounds that were bred to chase foxes until they got to a hole in the ground. The hound would stop and the chase was over. When the Wire Fox Terrier was developed, their ability to hunt extended beyond just chasing the fox. With their agility, prey, and hunting drive, they would chase the fox until it ran in the hole and then climb in the hole after the fox. Their short docked tails came in handy with the hunters, who were able to pull the terrier out of the hole if the fox wouldn't come out on its own. [...]